Controlled time interval playback mechanism



L. s. STRAUB I 2,799,731

CONTROLLED TIME INTERVAL PLAYBACK MECHAN ISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 16, 1957 Filed Nov. 14, 1955 RELAY NORMALLY CLOSED Fig.

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July 16, 1957 L. 5. STRAUB 2,799,731

CONTROLLED TIME INTERVAL PLAYBACK MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet ,2

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'July 16, 1957 s. STRAUB 2,799,731

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2,79%7'31 CONTROLLED TIME-INTERVALPLAXBACK MECHANISM Lawrence StStraub, Columbus, 'Ghio Application November-14, 1955, Serial No; 546,487 1 Claim. (c1. :1'79" 100.'1

This invention relates to an advertising sound reproducing system, and more particularly to a controlled time intervalplayb'ack mechanism adap'tedfor' use in advertising displays and for various other purposes.

The primary object 'ofthe present invention resides in the provision of means for providing automatie control of the starting and stopping of the reproduction of recorded sounds.

A further object of the invention resides-in the piovi'si'on'ofmeans for'providing automaticcontrol of the time interval between reproductions of sound when if desired to employ a series of sound reproductions with starts and stop's bet'ween individual reproductions.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of novel interlocks of sound reproductions with the functioning of some other mechanisms or .devices, as, for example, when it is desired to start some other machine, light or device at some specifictime interval with relation-to a particular portion of a sound reproduction as well as test-art somevo'uts'ide mechanism at some specific time with relation to some portion of the sound reproduction. I

The construction of this invention features an arrangement for controlling 'the drive of a sound reproducer by engagement with contacts, brushes or the like on conductive or non-conductive surfaces of a record, such as a magnetic tape or wire or disk-type record, or by the utilization of stops or punctures on or in the record itself. Also incorporated in the invention is a suitable timing arrangement consisting of a timer utilized in conjunction with a bank of stepping switches which may be preset and then individually selected, all of which are designed to intermittently start and stop the operation of the sound reproducer.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an advertising sound reproducing system which is efiicient in its operation, simple in construction, and effective in sales work as well as being applicable to the entertainment field, in instruction and education and other numerous fields.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following dsecription proceeds, are attained by this control time interval playback mechanism, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, where- Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a portion of the invention illustrating the arrangement of parts of the relays in conjunction with the contacts used to bridge the conductive insert on an endless tape;

Figure l-A is a schematic wiring diagram of the bank of stepping switches utilized in the invention; and

Figure 1-13 is a schematic circuit diagram of the timing mechanism utilized for actuation of the selector switches.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral '10 is used to generally designate a conventional sound reproducer which has a conventional pick-up head'12 that this invention is not limited to the use of endless tapes, but for the purpose of explaining theconcepts' of the invention, the endless tape 18 is utilized by way of eitainpl e-only. Affixed tothe endless tape 18 is an'insert 20 of some conductive materiah such as aluminum, iron, copper or the like, which is adapted to engage and be bridged by a pair of contacts 22 and 24 arranged adjacentth'e sound reproducer '10. H I I I The contacts 22 and 24 are adapted toconnect the coil 28 of relay 30 and-the coil 32 of relay 34 or a suitable source of direct current. The relays 30' and 34 con- "trol pairs of contacts 36, 38 and 40, 42-provid ed for controlling the functions of various types of interlockmechau r'iism, such as -lights, other machines or the like, as well as the operation of the sound reproducer 10. A-manual step. switch 44 is provided and a manual start switch '46 is likewise provided for actuation either manually or by some remote electrical device orthelike.

The relay contacts 36 and 38 of the relay 30 are-nor; 'm'ally fclos'ed, while the relay contacts 40 and 42 ofthe relay 34 are normally opened. Hence, upon energiza tionofjthe' relay 30, the contacts 36 and38 will be openedto open the circuit of the soundreproducer m' to its source of electrical power. Likewise, when-the relay coil S ZisfeXcited, the r'elay co ntacts 40 and 42 will be closed. Hence, 'the relay 34 may be utilizedto serve as means for causing the reproducer 10 to againfunction inasmuch as when the relay coil 32 is excited, it will cause the functioning of the relay 30. With the relay coil 32" excited, the contacts 42 will be closed, providing power toth'e' sound reproducer 1'0.

Through conductor 48, the relays are, connected to a series" of stepping switches, as at 50, 52 and 54. Each of the stepping switches 50, 52 and 54 have movable contacts, as at 56, 58 and 60 and are arranged in banks so that the actuation of the mounting wheel 62 will cause the rotation of the various movable contact members 56, 58 and 60. As shown in Figure 1-A, the contacts 56, 58 and 60 are so arranged that they will complete operative electrical circuits to conductors, as at 64 and 66, for example, when the movable contacts 56 and 58 achieve a predetermined position. In order to actuate the wheel 62, there is provided an actuating mechanism including a stepping point actuating pawl 68. A selector switch 70 is provided for interconnecting one of the stepping switches 50, 52 or 54 to the circuit including the conductor 48 and the conductor 70 which completes this direct current circuit.

In order to actuate the pawl 68, there is provided a timer 72 which is in the form of a 1 r. p. m. motor, having a cam 74 mounted thereon engageable with a. microswitch 76 to actuate the microswitch. When the microswitch 76 is actuated, it excites a solenoid 78 which causes its armature 80 to be actuated. The armature is pivoted, as at 82. The pawl 68 is pivotally attached to the elbow 84 of the armature 80, as at 86, and the armature and pawl 68 are interconnected by a spring 88 which urges the pawl 68 back to its initial position after actuation by the solenoid 78. In order to provide the direct current source, a transformer 90 is provided which reduces the voltage, the transformer being connected to a suitable rectifier 92.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

The timing motor 72 closes the microswitch 76 at each revolution and at this circuit closure, will cause the stepping switch arms 56, 58 or 60, whichever stepping switch has been selected, to advance one step at each such closure. When the necessary time has elapsed so that the motor 72 has caused the microswitch 76 to operate a predetermined amount, the stepping switch selected will close an operative electrical circuit between the relays 30 and 34 and the source of electrical power, whereby the sound reproducer 16 will be operated. The sound reproducer will then cause movement of the driving mechanism of the sound reproducer to move the tape 18 until the insert 26 bridges the contacts 22 and 24 to actuate the relays to stop the sound reproducer which will then remain stopped until the passage of a predetermined period when the stepping switches will again function to cause current to flow to the sound reproducer 10.

In use, for example, if it is desired to use the invention in a supermarket to advance the sale of two specific items, a message about one of the items, item A, may be recorded on a tape as well as a message about item B, and each of these messages may be reproduced with a spacing of two minutes between the messages about both items. It may be desired that a music box with a flasher sign should be operated between the end of the message about item B and the start of the message about item A.

In order to meet the requirements, a message on item A is recorded in the normal manner on the endless tape 18, and after the completion of the message on item A, the machine is allowed to run two minutes and then the message on item B is recorded. The machine may be set for reproduction and the message checked. A conductive section is then applied on the tape before the message on item A is started. The message on item B must be recorded before the conductive section of the tape approaches closely enough to the tape actuating mechanism to actuate the relay coils and stop tape movement. As soon as the conductive section permits passage of current which actuates the relays 3t) and 34 to stop current to the reproducer motor the same relays divert current to the outside mechanism of the music box and flasher by any suitable connections to the various pairs of contacts provided. Then, the switch 70 is actuated for selection of a stepping switch which must advance ten steps, equivalent to ten minutes before current can pass through it to the sound reproducer 10.

Therefore, in ten minutes from the time that current through the conductive section of the tape has passed through the relays which shut oflf current to the machines, the starting motor current from the microswitch has advanced the selected stepping switch to the point where the relays are actuated to again provide starting current for the tape recorder motor.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An advertising sound reproducing system comprising a sound reproducer including a record driving mechanism adapted to reproduce sound from a record, a record having a conductive insert, contacts arranged adjacent said sound reproducer adapted to be bridged by said conductive insert, relay means controlling said record driving mechanism, said relay means being connected to said contacts, said contacts when bridged by said insert opening the circuit between a source of electrical power and said record driving mechanism to stop said record driving mechanism, and timing means for closing the circuit between said source of power and said record driving mechanism, said timing means comprising banks of steping switches each connected to said source of power and said relay means, and a timer for sequentially actuating said stepping switches, and switch means for selectively connecting one of said stepping switches to said relay means and said source of power while disconnecting the others of said stepping switches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,602 Valentino July 24, 1951 2,604,547 Sack July 22, 1952 2,615,993 Carter Oct. 28, 1952 

